[Shutterstock] CRACOW, POLAND – JULY 23, 2017: People protest against violation the constitutional law in Poland. Defense of the triad of division of power and independence of the highest court in Poland.

This question is highly relevant since the European Parliament voted that same day a resolution on Poland’s rule of law issues. Indeed, the European Parliament suggests the formal process, which can result in suspending Poland’s voting rights.

Let’s be optimistic for a minute. The situation is serious but not dramatic; we can hope for an upswing in the run-up to the 2019 European Parliament’s elections. Europe brings hope in Central Europe, and the wheel can easily turn toward a pro-European path like it did in France. During the #MarchforEurope2017 movement, demonstrations for the EU anniversary were bigger in Warsaw and in London than in Rome. EU institutions have a real but limited influence. We also need to sustain civil society and press freedom in Poland and in Hungary.

To advocate effectively for the rule of law, the independence of justice, press freedom and democracy, we need to support NGOs. In the run-up to the 2019 European Parliament elections, emerging movements could play a role such as Stand Up for Europe, Momentum in Hungary, Progressive Slovakia, and KOD in Poland. Regarding media independence, Gazeta Wyborcsza (a media partner of EURACTIV) in Poland, deserves support from Western Europe.

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Fondation EURACTIV is a think-and-do-tank dedicated to fostering a healthy media community in Europe, through training programmes, workshops, and projects fostering media's innovation and skills.@FondEURACTIV

About: Media4EU

Fondation EURACTIV aim in particular to:

Support a healthy media sector by fostering a more proactive EU media policy

Support media improving EU policy coverage at a national and local level

Promote media innovation projects for media and related stakeholders

This will, in turn, contribute to a healthy democracy and the emergence of a European public sphere. At its core, it requires innovation for the media sector, which Fondation EURACTIV aims to contribute to by thinking what a strong EU media strategy should look like.
Our activities:

Provide analysis and facilitate a dialogue between media professionals and EU stakeholders, promoting debates and best practices sharing through conferences training programmes and workshops.

Fondation EURACTIV works when relevant with and draws upon the experience of the EURACTIV media network, present in 13 countries and publishing in 13 languages. We share the same origins, values and work in the same offices.

Fondation EURACTIV is led by Stephen Boucher. Until recently, he was CEO of consoGlobe.com, France’s largest online media on sustainable lifestyles. He also currently teaches on matters related to policy innovation, civic tech and political influence.
He was previously director for European policy at the European Climate Foundation (ECF). Before the ECF, he co-directed for four years the Jacques Delors Institute (then called Notre Europe).